Why does my eye water all the time?

Constant watering usually means tears aren't draining properly - often a blocked tear duct - or the eye is irritated (including by dry eye, which causes reflex tearing) or the eyelid is malpositioned. We find the exact cause before treating it.

What is dacryocystitis?

Dacryocystitis is infection of the tear sac, usually because a blocked tear duct lets tears stagnate. It causes a tender, red swelling at the inner corner of the eye, sometimes with discharge, and needs prompt treatment - and often DCR surgery to fix the underlying blockage.

Is a watering eye serious?

It's usually not dangerous but it is bothersome and, if from an infected tear sac, can flare painfully and spread. The good news is that it's very treatable - medically for infection, and surgically (DCR) for a blocked duct.

How is a blocked tear duct fixed?

With DCR (dacryocystorhinostomy) surgery, which creates a new drainage channel between the tear sac and the nose. It can be done through the nose (no skin scar) or via a small skin incision.

Is treatment covered by insurance?

Treatment of dacryocystitis and DCR surgery are medically necessary and usually covered, subject to your policy. We help with pre-authorisation.

Oculoplasty · Lacrimal

Watery Eyes (Dacryocystitis) — Treatment in Gurgaon

A constantly watering eye, or a red, painful swelling at the inner corner, is often a sign of a blocked or infected tear sac (dacryocystitis) — and it’s very treatable. At Dayal Eye Centre, our oculoplastic surgeon finds why your eye is watering and treats it — from clearing infection to DCR surgery that restores normal tear drainage.

NABH Accredited

20+ Years

1.2 Lakh+ Surgeries

AIIMS & Leicester-Trained Surgeon

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Close-up of a watering eye — tear sac area assessment

Watery eyes are more than a nuisance — an infected tear sac needs proper treatment

In Short

Tears normally drain from the eye into the nose through a small duct. When that duct is blocked, tears overflow onto the cheek (epiphora) and the tear sac can fill and become infected — dacryocystitis.

It is bothersome rather than dangerous, but an infected tear sac can flare painfully — and it is very treatable. Backed by NABH accreditation and an AIIMS- and Leicester-trained oculoplastic surgeon.

Also Called

Epiphora · Watering eye · Tear sac infection · Blocked tear duct

Specialty

Oculoplasty & Lacrimal (Tear-Duct) Surgery

20+

Years of specialist eye care in Gurgaon

1.2 Lakh+

Surgeries performed at the centre

AIIMS + UK

AIIMS- and Leicester-trained oculoplastic surgeon

NABH

Accredited multi-speciality eye hospital

Causes

What Causes Watery Eyes and Dacryocystitis?

Tears normally drain through a duct into the nose. If that duct is blocked, tears overflow (epiphora) and the tear sac can fill and become infected — called dacryocystitis — causing a tender, red swelling at the inner corner of the eye, sometimes with discharge.

Watering can also come from irritation, dry eye (reflex tearing) or eyelid malposition, which is why an accurate diagnosis matters before treatment.

Common Causes of a Watering Eye

Blocked tear duct — the duct into the nose is narrowed or closed, so tears cannot drain and overflow onto the cheek.

Infected tear sac (dacryocystitis) — stagnant tears in a blocked sac become infected, causing a tender, red swelling and discharge.

Dry eye — a dry surface triggers reflex tearing, so the eye paradoxically waters more.

Eyelid malposition — an in- or out-turned lid stops tears reaching the drainage opening at the inner corner.

Surface irritation — dust, allergy or infection makes the eye produce extra tears that overwhelm normal drainage.

Treatment

How Do We Treat It?

Treatment depends entirely on the cause — which is why the watering is diagnosed accurately first. The steps below run from clearing an infection to definitively fixing a blocked duct.

Infection Control

For acute dacryocystitis, antibiotics settle the infection, supported by warm compresses to ease the swelling and discomfort.

Addressing the Cause

Where dry eye or an eyelid malposition is driving the watering, treating that directly — rather than the tears alone — is what resolves it.

DCR Surgery

For a confirmed blocked tear duct, dacryocystorhinostomy creates a new drainage path between the tear sac and the nose — the definitive fix.

About DCR surgery

For a confirmed blocked tear duct, dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is the definitive treatment — it creates a new drainage channel between the tear sac and the nose, and can be performed through the nose with no skin scar.

The right treatment, its benefits and any risks depend on the underlying cause, the stage of infection and your overall eye health, and can only be determined after a detailed evaluation with our doctors.

Cost

Watery Eyes / DCR Cost in Gurgaon

Indicative starting-from ranges, subject to consultation. Medical treatment of dacryocystitis and DCR surgery are medically necessary and usually covered by insurance, subject to your policy — we help with pre-authorisation.

Cashless InsuranceEasy EMIGovernment Schemes

See the full oculoplasty cost breakdown

Treatment

Range

Tear duct surgery (DCR)

₹30,000 – ₹80,000

Medical treatment of dacryocystitis

Shared at consultation

Indicative ranges from the centre’s Verified Clinical Data 2024–2025. Actual cost is confirmed after examination; insurance / scheme coverage varies by policy. Easy EMI available.

Why Us

Why Choose Dayal Eye Centre

Tear-duct and eyelid surgery are sub-specialist work. Here it is led by an internationally trained oculoplastic surgeon, in an accredited hospital built for it.

Internationally trained sub-specialist — an oculoplastic surgeon (AIIMS + Leicester, UK) practising exclusively in eyelid, tear-duct and orbital surgery.

Reconstructive and cosmetic expertise under one roof — a NABH-accredited hospital with three modular operation theatres and an in-patient ward.

20+ years of institutional experience — 1.2 lakh+ surgeries performed at the centre, across every eye speciality.

Affordable, supported access — cashless insurance for medically necessary procedures, Easy EMI and government schemes.

Meet Our Oculoplastic Surgeon

Dr. Saurbhi Khurana

Oculoplasty, tear-duct & ocular aesthetics · AIIMS + Leicester, UK

An internationally trained oculoplastic surgeon who practises exclusively in periocular plastic and reconstructive surgery. MBBS at Maulana Azad Medical College and MD in Ophthalmology at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS New Delhi (Best Senior Resident, 2012), followed by an Oculoplasty & Ocular Aesthetics fellowship at Leicester University, UK.

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions patients ask us most about a watering eye. For anything specific to your eyes, a consultation gives the clearest answer.

Stop the Watering — Consult Our Doctors

One consultation finds exactly why your eye is watering and the treatment that fixes it — from clearing infection to DCR surgery. Our medical counsellors will contact you — no sales, expert consultation.